Extending its status beyond that of a celebrity jewelry brand, Kimitake has opened its first U.S. boutique, a Los Angeles showroom where clients can learn more about the company’s Japanese-inspired jewelry and design philosophy.
Kimitake was founded in 2023 by designer Kimio Fukutani and entrepreneur Takeshi Yokota. Thanks to stylist placements, celebrities from Taylor Swift and Brandi Carlile to actresses Debra Messing and Kerry Washington have worn Kimitake jewelry out and about. Its store on Sunset Boulevard soft-opened this month and will celebrate a grand opening in August.
“The first 18 months of our journey was dedicated to market research and building authentic relationships within the Los Angeles fashion community. As we’ve witnessed a growing audience with our values and vision, we felt it was the right time to establish a permanent boutique,” says Yokota, who moved to L.A. from Tokyo in 2021.
“We believe that the warmth of our craftsmanship and the spirit behind each piece can be most deeply conveyed through a physical space,” he adds.
Kimitake’s samurai braided cord symbolizes the idea of “tying” people together and forming profound relationships.
Kimitake emphasizes Japanese tradition and elegance in its jewelry, which is handmade in Kofu, a city on Japan’s Honshu island in the prefecture of Yamanashi, a region known for its jewelry craft and skilled artisans. The company uses 18k gold and quality natural diamonds, focusing on heart and cupid cuts for its gemstones.
Through the wearing and gifting of its jewelry, Kimitake aims to forge bonds between people. This is based on a philosophy known as wa no kokoro (meaning “the spirit of harmony”), which is uniquely Japanese. Many Kimitake jewels have an HC logo, to represent human connection.
Kimitake packaging—designed by Fukutani, who has worked in accessories for more than two decades—reflects the brand’s attention to detail. It is made with Japanese products and crafts, including paulownia boxes from Hiroshima, washi paper from Kochi, and yuzen dyeing from Kyoto, so the experience of unboxing a new jewelry piece becomes a celebration of Japanese culture, says Fukutani.
He notes that the L.A. boutique was designed in the same spirit of omotenashi, or Japanese hospitality, with such thoughtful touches as offering matcha green tea to customers as they try on jewelry.
The creation of Kimitake’s packaging is rooted in Japanese traditions and heritage, just like the brand’s jewelry and store interior design.
The space’s interior design features natural textures and subtle lighting, for a calm, zen-like feeling that invites guests to pause, reflect, and engage with their senses when visiting, says Fukutani. He hopes new and existing clients will feel comfortable dropping in to the boutique just to see what’s new.
Seasonal flowers throughout the Kimitake store evoke nature’s presence, peace, and stillness, Fukutani explains. The blooms stand in single-flower vases that are Shigaraki ware, a traditional ceramic from the Mie prefecture dating back to the 13th century and considered one of the “Six Ancient Kilns” of Japan. (Mie is also where the samurai braided cord used in a Kimitake line of jewelry pieces is produced.)
“A Kimitake boutique is not merely a place to select jewelry but a space to encounter the brand and experience a new expression of jewelry,” Fukutani says. “We believe that a new form of luxury lies not in opulence but in stillness, spaciousness, and the quiet refinement of wabi-sabi—values deeply rooted in Japanese culture.”
Kimitake is doing some pop-up shops in Aspen and the Hamptons, and is eyeing New York City for an upcoming retail location, according to Fukutani.
“Just as each piece is born from human connection, the in-store experience marks the beginning of a relationship,” he says.
Top: Inside Japanese-inspired fine jewelry brand Kimitake’s first U.S. boutique, which recently opened in Los Angeles (photos courtesy of Kimitake)